Lagos holds two-day seminar for intending pilgrims

By Haroon Balogun
•Be good ambassadors, Ambode urges
•Kogi first flight may take off tomorrow

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi has enjoined Lagos State intending pilgrims to represent the State well in Nigeria and in the Kingdom of Saudi Ararbia.

Dr AbdulHakeem Abdullateef, Commisioner for Home Affairs and Amirul-Hajj, Lagos State, (left) with Dr. Tajudeen Yusuf, Chairman, Lagos Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board, during the last leg of the two-day seminar for intending Prilgrims in the state held at the Old secretariat Mosque, GRA, Ikeja, recently.

He gave this advice during a Two-Day Seminar organised for 2018 hajj intending pilgrims.

According to the governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Amir ul Hajj 2018, the event held at the Old Secretariat Central Mosque, GRA, Ikeja, was meant to deepen the understanding of the dos and donts, the basics of hajj rites and etiquettes while performing the Holy pilgrimage.

Governor Ambode declared that his government has made adequate provision for comfortable accommodation, better feeding arrangement, buses, ambulances, Arabic classes, Lectures, Medical supports and other aids that will make the holy pilgrimage a success.

Also, reacting to the 2017 award as the best State in Hajj Operations, Dr. AbdulLateef, after the 2-day Seminar said on his Instagram: “Our joy is not in our emergence as the Best Nigerian State in Hajj Operations for Year 2016 and 2017 but Performing Hajj without losing any member of the Lagos state Contingent during the Hajj exercise is more paramount to the Lagos State government. As usual, we rely on Allah for His guidance, mercies and protection as we set to embark on 2018 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia”

He assured Lagosians of the readiness and determination of the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board to perform better, while adding that the essence of inviting the representatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Customs, Nigerian Immigration, National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Medical Doctors was to ensure that intending pilgrims were adequately enlightened on dos and don’ts of the Holy pilgrimage and to forestall any unnecessary delay and embarrassment of Lagos pilgrims.

In his address the Board Chairman, Dr. Tajudeen Yusuf Took the intending pilgrims through the step by step details of Hajj rites.

Meanwhile, according to National Hajj Commission, NAHCON, the inaugural flight from Nigeria may take off on Saturday, 21st July, 2018 with Kogi State, while all airliftings will be concluded on August 11, 2018 three days to the closure of Jeddah and Madinah airports.